Original oil painting on canvas covered board
40.6 × 30.5cm
Like many of my paintings, Resurrection is inspired by the ancient stories that have been told across the ages to make sense of the wonder and chaos of life. It combines the power of 'The Goddess', with the phenomenon of resurrection - both frequent central themes for stories that have been told across the world for millennia.
I am interested that similar themes emerge again and again, across geographies and through the ages, highlighting our human similarities, and our shared need to tell stories to make sense of the incomprehensible.
This painting is also heavily influenced by the symbolism surrounding resurrection in medieval illuminated manuscripts, especially the Book of Kells (my current obsession), which is full of intricate animal symbolism referencing the resurrection of Christ.
The lions in the Book of Kells are glorious, colourful creatures, sometimes winged, bearing little resemblance to the creatures we know. They symbolise the resurrection of Christ - an association born of the medieval belief that lion cubs were born dead. Apparently, their mother guards them for three days until the male returns to breathe on them, thus bringing them to life.
The snakes in the Book of Kells are friendly-looking, with huge eyes and sometimes ears. They also symbolise the resurrection of Christ, due to their ability to shed their skin and ‘renew’ themselves.
Here the Goddess stands with her head in the heavens and her feet in the river of life, with her familiars, exuding her easy, boundless power.
Original oil painting on canvas covered board
40.6 × 30.5cm
Like many of my paintings, Resurrection is inspired by the ancient stories that have been told across the ages to make sense of the wonder and chaos of life. It combines the power of 'The Goddess', with the phenomenon of resurrection - both frequent central themes for stories that have been told across the world for millennia.
I am interested that similar themes emerge again and again, across geographies and through the ages, highlighting our human similarities, and our shared need to tell stories to make sense of the incomprehensible.
This painting is also heavily influenced by the symbolism surrounding resurrection in medieval illuminated manuscripts, especially the Book of Kells (my current obsession), which is full of intricate animal symbolism referencing the resurrection of Christ.
The lions in the Book of Kells are glorious, colourful creatures, sometimes winged, bearing little resemblance to the creatures we know. They symbolise the resurrection of Christ - an association born of the medieval belief that lion cubs were born dead. Apparently, their mother guards them for three days until the male returns to breathe on them, thus bringing them to life.
The snakes in the Book of Kells are friendly-looking, with huge eyes and sometimes ears. They also symbolise the resurrection of Christ, due to their ability to shed their skin and ‘renew’ themselves.
Here the Goddess stands with her head in the heavens and her feet in the river of life, with her familiars, exuding her easy, boundless power.
